---
title: "Adjusting Difficulty On Your Core Keeper Server"
description: "Information on Adjusting Difficulty On Your Core Keeper Server"
url: https://help.chiphead.tech/en/articles/414-adjusting-difficulty-on-your-core-keeper-server
collection: "Core Keeper"
updated: 2026-06-11
language: en
---

# Adjusting Difficulty On Your Core Keeper Server

Information on Adjusting Difficulty On Your Core Keeper Server

## Summary

Core Keeper includes an optional **Hard Mode** difficulty setting that increases the game’s overall challenge. Hard Mode can only be enabled when creating a new world — it cannot be toggled on or off within an existing world.

**Important:**  
You cannot change the difficulty of an existing Core Keeper world. To enable Hard Mode, you must create a new world with the setting turned on.

## Changing Your Game Mode via Server Settings

You can enable Hard Mode for your Core Keeper server by editing the configuration file.

1.  Log in to the **ChipHead Panel** and stop your server.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/tMaslJEzd8Wsj7peXjUIpKw0BbM45JFhGEj8lWd9vwUrmFUIhOkUkLG7x99gVN3IF3KG1DrK1de.png)
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/4gC7Kzy1vIHcMp7VXdAehOACkenVRXNN5DycP4KXfNvSlw3huBT0NmR59b9XmDhWdCFvTgjdIZh.png)
    
2.  (Optional) **Create a backup** of your world before making changes.
    
3.  Navigate to **Game** **Config**.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/Ni25TW5VoqKmAYsduJozoe9g3ZxVE4xh47odhiZ2CRPllQ5G3v3uSrxhX62nCdygCx6xQ99AE7B.png)
    
4.  Within the **Server Properties** open **</>Raw**.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/Cd3cujhis07sLfuU7PmjcIOWihYN4cYk30CFIrLHDA8kgJiGPMGeFpjnGXK8qMO9JQ2qFQ3rzTf.png)
    
5.  Find the line that says:
    
    ```javascript
    world_mode=
    ```
    
    and set it to:
    
    ```javascript
    world_mode=1
    ```
    
6.  Save the file.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/ryu3fmUMBMI5CSXPeb2XUaiPZPBFIaOx3ksNLe3RzHmxdjk1jxCrYGRmXdCPBeySuSRIYpPR06h.png)
    
7.  **Start/restart** your server.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/attachments/20260610232845_3145.png)
    

> **Success:** Your new world will now launch in **Hard Mode**, offering a more challenging and rewarding Core Keeper experience.